VOICE OF THE PEOPLE (letter)

Drug abuse

Chicago — Fortunately Illinois is ahead of many states in addressing the meth problem. With the devastation of the meth problem first evident Downstate, Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan began focusing on this drug more than three years ago, forming a task force of diverse vested parties: education, law enforcement, substance-abuse treatment, Department of Children and Family Services, and criminal-justice agencies that have convened to attack this drug head-on. Chicago also has established a local crystal meth task force to coordinate information dissemination and to discuss developing an infrastructure for appropriate services.

Services must be addressed. Drug treatment for methamphetamine requires a different approach than that for the other drugs discussed in your editorial. Specifically, clinical trials have clearly demonstrated that longer periods of treatment are required to have successful outcomes. Also mental-health care must be incorporated into the substance-abuse treatment model. Because the withdrawal symptoms from this drug often are displayed as mental-health issues, mental-health care is critical from the onset of services.

The current infrastructure of social services is not only insufficient for existing substance-abuse treatment requirements, it is in severe need of enhancement to address the tremendous impact of an exploding drug problem. For example, education is needed for providers such as pharmacists, medical staff and law enforcement. Rather than deflecting services and focus from one drug, we must consider the complete impact of drug use, including the tremendous, rapid devastation that methamphetamine has on an individual, a family and a community.

As we continue to expand the dialogue, we must continue to inform the community about innovative approaches that must be reviewed and implemented to keep Chicago from becoming one of those many states where the epidemic is out of control.